- Government intervention leads to significant reduction of 20%
in long waits NHS waiting lists for
patients with muscle, bone and joint conditions.
- ‘Getting it Right First Time' Programme aims include
supporting people with MSK conditions get off
community waiting lists and return to work sooner.
- Results highlight new approach to tackling economic
inactivity and waiting list backlogs
In all, around 7,500 people living with musculoskeletal issues
(MSK) in areas of the
country with the longest waiting times were seen quicker thanks
to an NHS pilot backed by £3.5
million of investment from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The pilot trialled new digital tools to help people manage their
conditions remotely, and innovative one-day clinics that bring
health specialists and mental health support and physical
activity services together, allowing people to engage with
multiple services in one visit.
It's part of the Government's drive to tackle economic inactivity
– with around 2.8 million people signed off due to long-term
sickness, with more than half a million because
of MSK –
and bring down NHS waiting lists.
The funding has contributed to a 20 percent cut in 18 plus week
community MSK waiting lists in 17
areas between December 2024 and March 2025.
Minister for Employment Dame MP said:
No one should feel locked out of work due to health issues. We
invested in this support to help people get well and get working.
The results are clear: musculoskeletal patients are getting the
help they need and innovation supports them to get one step
closer to work and gets people off waiting lists.
Getting Britain working remains a key priority, and this support
is one tangible way we are doing it.
It comes alongside a wider support offer that meets sick or
disabled people where they are - backed by £3.5 billion by the
end of the decade.
Connect to Work will provide personalised help for 300,000 people
by 2030, while 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers are now based in
Jobcentres across England, Wales and Scotland, offering
personalised help to people on health-related benefits with no
requirement to work – many of whom had no support before.
The MSK pilot supports the
government's 10 Year Health Plan and Neighbourhood Health Service
vision, giving patients access to a range of services under one
roof.
On 26 March, the government announced 27 Neighbourhood Health
Centres will be open by 2027, offering urgent treatment, GP and
pharmacy services. The first 50 centres of a total 250, are
backed by £200 million in total investment.
Health Minister said:
The success of this scheme shows how this government is taking a
new approach to cutting NHS waiting lists,
modernising the NHS, and getting people healthy
and back into work.
Offering multiple services under one roof, with tailored care for
that specific person, is part of our mission to build a true
Neighbourhood Health Service
With more care in the community, everyone wins. Patients get the
best care, and the NHS gets people back to
work, boosting economic growth.
The overall NHS waiting list is the
lowest it's been for three years, but the government is doubling
down - with record investment and modern, innovative approaches
to care ensuring people get seen more quickly as we rebuild
the NHS.
Professor Tim Briggs, National Director for Clinical
Improvement and Elective Recovery at NHS England, said:
Back pain, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions are key
causes of sickness absence so it's great news for thousands of
patients that these NHS pilots cut waiting
lists by 20 per cent, helping many back into employment.
It is especially encouraging that the NHS England Getting It
Right First Time initiative led to some innovative ways of
working among the participating NHS teams, allowing
patients to receive help from multiple services in one visit –
including mental health, employment support and debt management
advice.
Additional information
- Cohort 2 of the scheme is currently ongoing and is being
implemented in six Integrated Care Boards, supported by a £2.2
million funding boost. We are taking forward the success of this
pilot and future plans will be shared in due course.
- The Community Delivery Programme Cohort 1 ran from December
2024 to March 2025 across 17 NHS areas.
-
MSK conditions
are the leading cause of Years Lived with Disability in England
and a major driver of GP appointments.
- Further information on the Getting It Right First Time
programme is available at gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk
- The 17 NHS areas are:
- Birmingham and Solihull ICB
- Bristol, North Somerset & South
Gloucestershire ICB
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB
- Cheshire (NHS Cheshire and
Merseyside ICB) ICB
- Cornwall ICB
- Devon ICB
- Dorset ICB
- Greater Manchester ICB - Manchester / Oldham
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB
- Leicester Leicestershire &
Rutland ICB
- Norfolk and Waveney ICB
- North Central London ICB
- North East and North Cumbria ICB
- North East London ICB
- Northamptonshire ICB
- Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB
- Sussex ICB
